Say What? Norstrom has a discount store filled with great deals on designer brands?

It’s true, and it’s right down the street from Lenox Mall.

Heaven. Total Heaven.

It’s in the same shopping center as the “Gucci TJ Maxx” (at least that’s what the locals call it). This TJ Maxx has the BEST shoe department I’ve ever seen, and I’ve hit the Maxx in over 10 states so I’ve seen a lot of shoes. (Gold Medalist, remember?)

Now, back to Nordstrom Rack- awesome selection of ladies clothes and dresses and loads of shoes. I found this Michael Kors fur chubby (so hot this winter season) for $69. Totally worth the trip to Atlanta.

It’s That Good, Y’all!

Filines Basement is another Buckhead institution worth a quick peek. It’s right across the street from Phipps Plaza so pop in and check out their designer savings.

A final favorite for me is Loehmannshttp://www.loehmanns.com/ . They have two locations in Atlanta, one by Emory University and one up by Perimeter Mall. They have designer clothes, think Betsey Johnson and Maxx Studios at a fraction of the price. I’ve also found some really cute kids clothes at the Perimeter location.

I hope you found some great shopping ideas that make you want to grab your best friend, pack up the car, and head down to Atlanta to get your Wine Taste on a Beer Budget Christmas shopping done.

Many thanks to Shannon for letting me share my thoughts on Atlanta shopping and bringing y’all some great tips on getting the most out of your Beer Budget.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Here's the low down on all the parties surrounding Tis the Season, again....First up, the preview party....Let the Shopping Begin! This party runs from 9 am to 11 am on Friday the 18th, and will give you a sneak peak into the fabulous merchants and give you first "dibs" at some of the hottest gifts this season. There will be exclusive discounts from select merchants, silent auction, light breakfast fare, valet parking and gift wrapping are included in the ticket price. $40

Next up, Girl's Night Out...Mischief and Magic, Friday the 18th. This event runs from 6pm to 9pm and will be filled with select merchant discounts, cash bar, hors d'oeuvres, manicures, gift wrapping and amazing gift bags. (You didn't hear it here, but I heard the first 150 people at the doors will receive a gift bag with great goodies including a $25 Tory Burch gift card!!!) $15

Hi Y’all! Did you like the budget friendly finds from my last entry? Well, get ready because I have a few more stores up my sleeve that will make you want to pack your bags and head right down to Atlanta!

If you want to venture out of Buckhead and into the burbs, drive up 400 to the Avenue. Here you will find one of my favorite shops, Lavenderhttp://lavenderboutique.com/default.asp. They have the hottest designers and super affordable prices. If you are an Alabama fan, check out this hounds tooth dress that is Bamalicious!

It almost makes me want to be a Bama fan so I can wear it. JUST KIDDING! I’m waiting for the Tennessee version of this dress with an orange top and a checkerboard end zone skirt! Go Vols!

Or this one for the Dawg fans? Clothing should not be this cute, seriously!

If you are interested in children’s clothing, a great store that is close to Buckhead is Chocolate Souphttp://www.chocolatesoup.net/index.htm. I grew up in Germantown and they have one near where I used to live. Thankfully, they opened a shop in Atlanta so I can get my Soup fix. I shop here for my kids and they have really great girl clothes and adorable boy clothes (which is practically impossible to find). They rock Le Top, BT Kids, Baby Togs, and other name brands at ridiculous prices. This store is super close to my office, which makes my husband very nervous.

One final store that You. Must. Not. Miss. is Ballards Backroom. You know the popular decorator catalog, Ballard Designs? http://www.ballarddesigns.com/

Well…. We have two outlets for Ballard Designs right in Atlanta. Two. Are you drooling yet?

One location is close to I-75 if you are traveling towards downtown and the other one is on Holcomb Bridge just a few exits up 400. The downtown location is the corporate office and the Holcomb Bridge location is the LARGEST outlet location in the country. I barely have words to describe the deals… yeah, right! I’ve never been at a loss for words. There is furniture and accessories, art, lamps, rugs, stools, and a huge selection of scratch and dent items.

This precious desk would be great in a child’s room or the corner of your den as a side table. It’s a steal for the list price of $159.99 but they always have additional savings off the list price. This desk would fit so easily in the back of an SUV!

Ballards Backroom also has great holiday décor so stop by and bring your big car because you are going to want to haul a truck load out of there!

It’s That Good, Y’all!

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the best bargain shopping on Earth, IKEAhttp://www.ikea.com/us/en/. Atlanta’s IKEA is located in Atlantic Station- which could be it’s own shopping blog. Atlantic Station is close to Buckhead so you can hop on 85 South and get there in 5 minutes. IKEA is a place to visit and say you have been there. I’m not sure anyone would dare pass up a six pack of Christmas glasses for $6.99

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Hi Y’all! Have you sobered up from my last blog entry on Happy Hour in Atlanta? Ha! Well, grab a Powerade and get ready, I have some more great finds at Christmas time!

Boutiques in Atlanta are like gophers on the prairie, they keep popping up! My FAVORITE of all time is Fabrikhttp://www.fabrikstyle.com/# . Fabrik is located in the Shops Around Lenox amid very expensive jeans and shoe stores. Their clothes are affordable and well edited and the shoes are a great deal. I got the BEST shoes of my life there for $32! They also have a great blog on their website with style tips and inspiration from celebrities.

Check out the awesome jacket for $68!

It’s That Good, Y’all!

Festivityhttp://www.festivityonline.com/39/Festivity_Online.htm is another great boutique in the Buckhead area that boasts a great mix of designer clothing and Beer Budget friendly apparel. Take a look at these black cowboy boots for $74.00. You could pair these boots with a LBD and totally change the vibe from classy to country in a snap!

Sage is a great store right in the heart of Buckhead http://www.sageclothing.com/ that I highly recommend. I found this great bag for only $99.00!

Those are a few of my favorite things and I hope you find some great fashions in Buckhead boutiques as well.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Hi Y’all! Hopefully I’ve whet your taste buds for some serious Atlanta shopping. Before I move on to some of the best boutiques, I’d like to spend some time talking about food.

I’m a picky eater- read Diet Coke and Candy Corn- so if I recommend a place to eat, you KNOW it is good. If you want to head out to lunch, I have a couple of places that I think you must totally go.

Since Nashville just got a Nordstrom, y’all probably realize that nothing could be more perfect than the combination of food and shopping. I’m talking about the Nordstrom Café.

Why don’t other stores follow this concept? They are missing out on serious business.

It’s my go-to meeting place with other working girls. There is a Nordstrom in Phipps so if you are there; it’s a great place to grab a quick lunch. I love the Tomato Basil soup- it’s low fat. The salads are fabulous and chicken pesto sandwich can’t be beat.

Another great Phipps location is the Phipps Tavern. Definitely a “be seen” crowd at lunch or dinner. I always get the nachos or a Thai Chicken Salad.

If you want to rock a Scarlett O’Hara vibe, then head to the Swan Coach House for lunch http://www.swancoachhouse.com/ . It’s off Piedmont Roadand great for a cute lunch or afternoon tea. It will definitely be a true Southern experience and the gift shop has wonderful Christmas gifts.

If you are at Lenox, Lenox Grill is the best. My Mom loves Prime and Corner Bakery is great for quick soups and sandwiches.

The St. Regis is definitely not on the Beer Budget for hotel rooms. However, a drink will never kill you- but the décor and atmosphere in this place just might. At 6PM every night they have a guy come out and cut the neck off a Champagne bottle with a saber. Very cool and free champagne. How is that for beer budget, right girls? The décor is glamorous in one part of the bar and very clubby in another. They have a great wine list and a perfect outdoor location. If you come to Atlanta, you will probably see me there eating the snack mix and mooching drinks off my CEO (he is also a fan).

Know Before You Go- valet parking is required at all of the above locations so be prepared with cash. I never carry any cash so I thought I’d let you know so you don’t have to tip the valet in smiles, like I do…. sometimes.

Whew. I guess I have a lot to say about drinking in Atlanta. Maybe next time Shannon will let me write a full week about the happy hour scene in Atlanta…. Clearly I have a lot to say! Ha!

Monday, November 14, 2011

So my good friend Anna lives in Atlanta and I asked her to guest blog for me this week. This is for all you lucky peeps who are taking a shopping trip there for the holidays.... jealous! I hope you enjoy this week and find all of her suggestions well worth the trip. I know I will!

Hi Y’all. I’m Anna from Atlanta and it’s such a delight to be a guest blogger for Wine Taste Beer Budget Nashville. When Shannon asked me to write a column on her website I was ecstatic. I mean, come on- Shopping. In Atlanta. At Christmas Time.

It’s That Good, Y’all.

I consider bargain hunting my Olympic Event and girls, you know I get Gold every time!
There are so many affordable shops in Atlanta that I thought I’d break it down into three groups- mall stores, boutiques, and corporate stores. You can find some unique and trendy fashions in all three types of shops and with Christmas less than 45 days away, we’d better get shopping!

My opinion of shopping in Atlanta is that you must, must know where you are going and what you are doing or you will end up driving up and down Peachtree Road (BTW- all roads in Atlanta are called Peachtree). There is also an insane amount of road construction on Peachtree Street (see what I mean about road names…) so you will want to plan ahead or you might miss your turn and end up downtown.

So, I’m here to help. Let’s talk hotels first. The most central location to stay is in Buckhead. You could venture out a little farther and stay around the Perimeter Mall area but Buckhead is close to downtown, Perimeter, and just a really happening place- read COOL. It’s where you want to be.

Shannon has stayed at the Marriott right next to Lenox Mall which is a perfect spot for ease of parking at the mall. Around Buckhead you will find every hotel chain known to man so take your pick. You really can’t go wrong. Here’s a list to get you started: http://www.buckhead.net/hotels/

Now, on to MALLS. The epicenter of Atlanta shopping is Lenox Mall.

It’s big and has lots of shiny objects and a bunch of awesome stores that are not found in other cities in the South.

I love Lenox like I love my Vols.

It’s That Good, Y’all.

Since we are talking Beer Taste here, I’ll fill you in on a couple of great stores that you can’t miss:

Zara-www.zara.com – Never heard of Zara? Que Pasa, baby? It’s the Spanish version of Banana Republic but much more affordable and on-trend. To. Die. For.

Richs- I don’t think you have Rich’s in Nashville so check out the sale racks.

Phipps Plaza is across the street and most of the stores there probably don’t fit a Beer Budget but it’s worth a look to drool over some Jimmy Choo and Versace shoes.

Let’s move on to the Perimeter Mall. It’s about 5 miles north of Buckhead and has some great shops as well.

JY Lamis (right outside Norstrom on the top level) has great clothes that are super inexpensive. Check out the super cute dress that would totally fantastic with a great pair of tall boots.

Perimeter also has a Hannah Anderson store so if you love the clothes for kids, check out the Sale rack for the best prices.

Both Lenox and Perimeter have valet parking which I recommend during the Christmas season. You don’t have to lug your packages across the parking lot and you always get a great spot!

The malls are SUPER crowded during the holiday season so I suggest going during the week or early in the AM. Avoid the lunch hour and you will be fine.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

I know this is a rare Sunday blog, but I want to make sure all my readers know about the Groupon deal that is ending today. There is a deal for discounted tickets to this coming up weekend's 'Tis the Season Holiday Market happening at the Convention Center. You can get your tickets for General Admission or for the special events at the following link. Hurry, this deal ends today!

And don't miss this week's guest blogger... Anna from Atlanta! Starting tomorrow, you can read all about the hot shops and restaurants you don't want to miss if you are planning a trip to Atlanta...or are just curious about where people are going this holiday season. She has some really great ideas and deals from Atlanta and she'll be blogging about them everyday this week. Don't miss it!

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I'm an entrepreneur, salesperson, mom and shopaholic with wine taste and a beer budget. I love to shop boutiques, designers and upscale items, but don't like to pay the outrageous prices. If I can find it under $100, I'll feature it on this site. Happy Shopping!